Marquez Continues Winning Form

LE MANS, France — Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez produced another masterful victory Sunday on the Le Mans Bugatti circuit, winning from the pole for the fifth time in as many attempts this year.

Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista were also on the podium.

Marquez produced a fantastic comeback after an early mistake that left him 10th on lap one. He was able to charge back through the field and by lap 16 held a second advantage over Rossi. Rossi was able to lead for several laps in the first half of the race, but ultimately could not hold off the rampant Marquez.

Whilst Rossi achieved his 10th premier class podium at Le Mans and his 150th in the top category, Marquez became the first rider to win five successive premier class races from pole since Mick Doohan in 1997.

Meanwhile, it was Bautista’s first podium since 2012 and a great reward for the determination he has shown since his three DNFs at the start of the season. An excellent ride from rookie Pol Espargaro saw him hold off Dani Pedrosafor fourth. Pedrosa appeared to be riding in significant discomfort after recent arm pump surgery.

Jorge Lorenzo finished three seconds behind Pedrosa in the unfamiliar territory of sixth for the 2010 and 2012 MotoGP World Champion. Stefan Bradl recovered from his recent arm operation for seventh, with Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro and Bradley Smith also in the top 10.